Osteospermum plant named ‘Oslipu’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Osteospermum ecklonis  plant named ‘Oslipu’ characterized by its very compact ball shape plant habit, dark green colored leaves, freely flowering with numerous inflorescences per plant, and daisy-type inflorescences with deep purple colored ray florets and blue colored disc florets.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Osteospermum ecklonis.

Varietal denomination: ‘Oslipu’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Osteospermum plant, botanically known as Osteospermum ecklonis.

The new Osteospermum is propagated by cuttings resulting from a cross of a proprietary Osteospermum ecklonis seedling selection as the male, or pollen, parent identified as code number ‘C272’ with a proprietary Osteospermum ecklonis selection identified as code number ‘C298’ as the female, or seed, parent. Breeding code of new plant is ‘C0298-4.’

The new Osteospermum was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated population grown in Enkhuizen, Netherlands, in 1998. Neither ‘C272’ nor ‘C298’ has been patented. The new Osteospermum plant has been repeatably asexually reproduced by cuttings in Enkhuizen, Netherlands over a period of 7 years. It has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive propagations, and this novelty appears to be firmly fixed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

This new Osteospermum plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographic drawing which shows blooms, buds and foliage of the plant in full color, the color shown being as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of this new Osteospermum plant. The data which defines these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Enkhuizen, Netherlands. The plant history was taken on 25 weeks old plants. The instant plant was grown indoors in a 10.5 cm container and transplanted into the open field in week 20.

Color references are primarily to the R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London, edition 2001.

TABLE 1 DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE NEW CULTIVAR ‘OSLIPU’ AND TWO SIMILAR CULTIVARS ‘Osoutis’ (U.S. Pat. ‘Wild Side’ (Not ‘Oslipu No. 15,491) patented) Plant height 18-20 cm 25 cm 38 cm Plant width 20-25 cm 30 cm 52 cm Flower color Purple fading Purple fading Deep Purple Flower size  4 cm  5 cm  5 cm

-   The plant:     -   -   Classification.—Botanical: Osteospermum ecklonis. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—A seedling named ‘C298’ is one of our             seedlings from our C-generation of plants bred in 1998.             Breeder's code of the new plant is ‘C0298-4’ (not patented).         -   Male parent.—A seedling named ‘C272’ is one of our seedlings             from our C-generation of plants bred in 1998. -   Plant description:     -   -   Growth habit.—Round, very compact.         -   Plant height.—18-20 cm.         -   Speading area of plant.—15-25 cm.         -   Strength.—Moderate growth.         -   Branching character.—Freely branching, 12 lateral branches             without pinching.         -   Blooming period.—From May until October. -   The stem:     -   -   Length.—13 cm.         -   Diameter.—2-3 mm.         -   Internode length.—10 mm.         -   Texture.—Glabrous.         -   Color.—RHS 146B. -   The foliage:     -   -   Shape.—Single leaves, alternate and elliptic, apex: broadly             acute. Base: attenuate, margin: irregular serration.         -   Number of leaves per lateral branch.—84.         -   Texture.—Glabrous, leather.         -   Leaf.—Color — Upper side: RHS 137B. Color — Under side: RHS             137C. Length: Young 10-16 mm, mature 50 mm. Width: Young 5-7             mm, mature 22-26 mm.         -   Petiole.—Absent. -   The inflorescence:     -   -   Number of inflorescences per mature plant.—50.         -   Inflorescence bud.—Form: Ovoid. Length: 5-8 mm. Width:             6-8 mm. Color: RHS 79D.         -   Inflorescence lastingness on the plant.—Around 5 days             depending on the temperature.         -   Inflorescence.—Diameter: 40 mm. Disc diameter: 6-8 mm.         -   Inflorescence depth.—6 mm.         -   Fragrance.—No fragrance.         -   Disc florets.—Shape: Tubular, elongated. Apex: Five pointed.             Length: 8 mm. Width: 1 mm. Number of disc florets per             inflorescence: 55. Color: RHS 79B.         -   Ray florets.—Length: 22 mm. Width: 6 mm. Shape: Capitulum             with one series of ray florets. Color Upper surface: RHS             72A. Middle surface: RHS 72A. Lower surface: RHS N79A.             Number of ray florets: 16-18, some (2-5) small needle ray             florets per capitulum. Shape Apex: Rounded. Base: Acute.             Margin: Entire. Texture: Satiny.         -   Peduncles.—Length: 4-5 cm. Texture: Tiny hairs. Color: RHS             144A. Diameter: 1.5 mm. Shape: Round.         -   Phyllaries.—Texture Rough, tiny hairs. Number of phyllaries:             16-17. Color: RHS 144B. Length: 7 mm. Margin: Entire. Width:             1 mm. Apex: Acute. Shape: Ligulate. Color: — Upper RHS 144B.             Color: — Lower RHS 144B. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Androecium.—Appearance: Present on disc florets only. Shape:             Oblong, five stamens fused to one. Length: 2 mm. Width:             1 mm. Pollen color: RHS 25A. Total no. of anthers: 40.         -   Gynoecium.—Appearance Present on both ray and disc florets.             Pistil number: One pistil per ray or disc floret. Pistil             length: 4 mm. Stigma color: RHS 77A. Stigma shape:             Bipartite. -   Seed development: Seed development has been observed on plants of     the new Osteospermum.     -   -   Amount of seeds produced.—Moderate.         -   Seed length.—5 mm.         -   Diameter.—2 mm.         -   Color.—RHS 200A.         -   Shape.—Elliptic. -   Disease resistance: Under commercial conditions, plants of the new     Osteospermum are resistant to fungal pathogens common to     Osteospermum. 

1. A new and distinct variety of Osteospermum plant, substantially as illustrated and described herein. 